State needs to stop dragging feet on same-sex marriage ruling

The Brownback administration and the state government need to stop dragging their feet on implementing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. All judicial districts in the state have said they will issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But those legally wed couples still cannot get the same state benefits as heterosexual couples, including changing their last names on their driver’s licenses or adding spouses to their state health plans. The Brownback administration and state agencies say they are “reviewing the ruling.” Thomas Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, said there was no justifiable reason for the delay. “Every chief judge in this state recognizes this is the law of the land,” he said. “Now it’s the governor’s turn.” – Phillip Brownlee